Vaporizing, cooling, and refining apparatus.



No. 648,3l9. Patented Agir. 24, |9005.

w.v H. wEmHTMAN. VAPORIZING, COOLING, AND REFINING APPARATUS.'

(Applim'ion sued Apr. 4, laas.)

NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

` WILLIAM I-I. wEIGI-ITMAN, oF NEW YORK, N. Y.

VAPORIZING, COOLING, AND REFINING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 648,319, dated April 24, 1900.

Application filed April 4, 1899. Serial No. 711,669. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. WEIGHT- MAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of New York, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Vaporizing, Cooling, and Refining Apparatus,of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to and has for its object the construction of a vaporizing heat exl tracting and disseminating apparatus for cooling and refining purposes wherein a controlled admission of vapor, atmospheric air, or similar fluid gases under a natural or enforced movement, circulation, or action is provided for asa cooling, changing, absorbing, or carrying medium, together with a maximum opportunity for the radiation, dis` persion, and dissemination of any contained heat or of any undesirable qualities or qualiications the water, fluid, liquid, material, or substance to be acted upon or treated may contain.

Certain of my improvements consist in the provision of special means for effecting the eXposure,uniform distribution,and dropping, I

with a guard, fence, wall, or shield of less height or altitude projecting upward from the ground-oor or base-level of the apparatusV and equally exposed to the atmosphere on both sides, over which a controlled, guarded,

'or natural flow of the air or cooling medium passes tothe Vopenings or passages at the lower end of said upwardly-extending compartment.

Other improvements consist in inclosing, forming,and partitioning said apparatus with walls in Whole or in part hollow and Watertight to provide aplaceinto and Within which the water, liquid, or material to be treated is entered and stored to inally overiiow and move down the sides or walls or to enter pipes, ducts, ways, or distributers for further treatment, thereby exposing the' same to a liberal opportunity for heat radiation, exposure, or dispensing surface before reaching the overflow, sheeting, showering, and downpourprovided for.

Other improvements consist in the construction, arrangement, and combination within the upper portion of said compartment of one or more tiers of water, iiuid, liquid, or material distributingA reservoirs or Ways, each of which is fed at one or both ends from the overflow of the hollow walls or'partitions of the apparatus; also in preferably suspending from said reservoirs or ways drops, curtains,

perforate sheets, or planes, down which by i overiiow perforations or slots the water, fluid, liquid, or material moves, while carefully preserving between said drops, curtains, sheets, and their associated ways or reservoirs a free, unhindered, and ready passage of the rising air, vapor, or fluid gases up through and out of the inner compartment as it becomes charged, saturated, and loaded with the vapor, heat, or material to be got rid of.

Other improvements consist in the special construction, arrangement, and combination ofthe several parts, portions, or details of the apparatus as may be hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents a sectional elevation of a vaporizing, refining, or cooling apparatus embodying my improvements. Figs. 2 and 3 represent a detail sectional plan and elevation of the upwardly-extending compartment, embodying and showing a general arrangement of the overflow distributing reservoirs or ways and suspended drops, curtains, and perforated sheets or planes. Fig. 4 represents a cross-section on line :c 4r of Figs. 2 and 3, illustrating the ref lation between the hollow walls or partitions,

the perforations, supply-pipes, ducts or mouths, and the distributing reservoirs or ways and the suspended drops, curtains, or perforated sheets.

Similar letters of reference designate like parts, portions, or details in all the figures.

IOC)

until allowed to overflow the water, fluid, or

Letter A designates an upwardly-extending inner compartment or shaft open at its top. e l

C designates walls or partitions, preferably made lin whole or in partl hollow andwatertight, to receive,contain,and securely hold material to-be treated.

C designates hollow and water-tight con-l nections, braces, or partitions. v

, C2l designates a surrounding guard, fence, Y wall, or shield, made-hollow or solid, as preferred, and` constructed to project upward from the ground iioor or base-level ofthe apparatus and equally exposed on all suie or' reservoir` tor containing l or transmitting v the results of the operations of the apparatus and .into which, all waters, liquids,'or fluidsr dropping'upon the bottomH, whether-trom` operation, rain, vapor, or condensation, shalll iiow.. i

compartment A.

circulation of the said. rising vapor or extracings.

'tween'the several walls or partitions.

. I designates a discharge or cleaning blowj 0R orl outlet'. Y

J, J', and J2 designate inlet connections,j f through which the water, fluid, liquid, or ma-V terialis admitted to the hollow walls O, ac.-

lcordingvto the extent or quantity oistorage,I exposure, or radiation desired. J designates aconnection located -to best supply all thev walls, partitions,an d connections. Jdesignat'es aconnection located to best supply the f walls, partitions, and connectionsotthein ner compartment A, while J2 designates a connection located toV bestV supply more or less of the upper walls, partitions, or connectionsof the inner compartmentA. r

Letter Kdesignates a series of openingsv (Letter'G designates additional air-admis#` sion openings to assist in the elevation and,

H designates'a base or,- bottom madevhollow inwhole or inpart and water-,tight as al means of 'communication or` circulation `be#` ormetallic lathing of Woven or pendent material about, over, through, or down which the fluid, liquid, water, or material to be treated is passed by gravitation in sheets, drops, or surfaces best suited to a reliable contact, connection, or attrition with' the upwardly-moving vapor, air, or fluid gases, according to the results desired.

Letter M designates special drops 'or curtains', similar to those designated by N, vertically suspended and larranged to attract, receive, and collect any water ofcondensation moving upbetweenand through `the several spaces formed thereby. `Such Waterof condensation will move down by gravity to drop into the ways Oor into the spaces'between, as zdesired. 's i 'Y p -Y Q .,designates a series o'fdistr'ibuting reservoirs or ways by meansot which the'iluid,

liquid, water', or material tobe treated is diseral suspended surface drops, curtains, falls,

or diaphragms.- Said distribution, showerl f v i ing, sheeting,` or sprinklingisjeiected by Ffdesignates a guard, pyramid, or scatter` l ingplatelocated to receive and spread thei Vfall from the overllow, drops., curtains, or sheets'.A It may be` perforatedor constructed Vin separated planes arranged or divided to kpermit of aready ventilation and the escape of any-'rising vapor'or extraction from *thel surface-'of 4the ,contents below up through not said waystor reservoirs as Anecessary accordingfto `the material or vsubstance t0 be treated. v v

P designates crossbars, b races, or frames, to which the lower ends of the drops vor diaphragms N are secured. They niay,.how ever, hang freeat the bottom, if preferred. A preferred method, as illustrated in Fig. 1, is to suspend the drops N `in graduated lengths toreceiveand guide the incoming air, vapor, orltluid gases evenly into the upward spaces'between said drops N.

Letter QV designates an overiiow at the upper end of and forming apart or portion with or,'it desired, Venlarged from the hollow walls C. If the hollow walls are dispensed with,

i this'overilow may be fed direct fromrisers,

pipes, `or ducts. From the overflow the fluid `or substancefundergoing treatment passes steadily through minute perforations in the `wallsxot said overflow Q for a continuous lets or perforations Q may be located Vas desiredto secure a continuous, nicely-regulated, and even distribution down through chamber or compartmentA. `To vprovide for this nicely-regulated and even distribution of the liquid,1uid, or'material to the several distributing reservoirs or ways, and thenceA down IOO ` through compartment A, as through an air-- through compartment A', the overllow portion Q is projected or extended bodily or by ducts,

feeders, or passages to overhang the distributing ways or reservoirs O, the ducts, feeders, or passages Q', depended down to or within the overflow-levels of said distributing ways or reservoirs, securing an even head-pressure, a continuous, quiet, and even supply to each of the several distributing ways or reservoirs,

and an even overflow down through all portions of compartment A independent of the drops, curtains, or diaphragms N. i

Connections or partitions C' are of sufficient area and capacity to assure adequate circulation Within and between the hollow portions of the walls or partitions forming the apparatus. They may be made use of as supports for any shutters, slides, gates,-or valves for controlling the admission or pressure of air, vapor, or tl u id gases to be made use of.

In the operation of the device as illustrated for the vaporizing and cooling of water the wa? ter to be treated is passed into and through the hollow water-tight walls C, thence through connections, partitions, and bottom C, C', and H to the walls C of the compartment A, whence it rises to the overllow locality at Q, the original admission being made at any suitable point or locality J. partment A are to be used, admission may be made at any suitable point or locality J. If only the upper Walls of chamber or compartment A are to be used, admission may be had at any suitable point or locality, (indicated at J 2.) Meanwhile the contained heated water while passing through or stationary within the hollow walls C is radiating or giving out some portion of its heat through the surfaces of said walls and having reached the overflow elevation enters the outlet ducts, passages, or pipes at Q and is discharged in to the several distributing ways or reservoirs O to overflow or be squirted,sprayed, or showered upon or against the suspended drops, curtains, sheets, or diaphragms N, down and along which in a thin layer, screen, or sheet the [luid moves to give out its heat to theupwardly-moving air or vapor and to assist in the development of heat-absorbing vapor, manufactured or generated from the downpassing water or fluid, the same, with its heat, passing up and out through compartment A to the atmosphere. As the treated fluid or water approaches the lower ends of the drops or diaphragms N it may pass directly to the reservoir E or to the guard or scattering plate F, flowing por, or fluid gases is admitted under ordinary atmospheric orwind circulation through overhead openings formed by the walls,partitions, or connectionsand passes downwardly to and through openings or passages D and up If only the walls of com-y shaft or chimney, such movement being effected through wind-pressure and through the dierences in density of the outer and inner masses of air, vapors, or temperature developments. The guard fence, wall, or shield C2 =is preferably made use of as a means for a 'quiet and uniform entrance of the air, vapor, or gases to compartment A; but said walls may, if desired, be omitted and admission taken directly through openings or passages D, using the dellectors, gates, or valves according to necessity in atmospheric or pressure use. With Ythe said guard fence, wall, or shield omitted the outer air orwind will tend in whole or in part, according to its strength, pressure, and speed of movement, to pass directly and horizontally through and across the lower end of compartment or shaft A without moving upward. The inlet-openings D on the several sides of said compartment or shaft are located at its lower end for the same reason. lThe whole apparatus is best located and operated in a free exposure to wind, air, and atmospheric forces and changes and preferablyat an elevation where such forces and changes are best experienced.

The leading features of this apparatus are the radiation of heat from the water through the surfaces and sidings of the hollow walls and partitions inclosing the substance, material, or lluid to be treated, the absorption of a portion of this internal radiation by the admitted air, vapor, or fluid gases in their passage to, through, and up the compartment A and up and along the exposed surfaces of the several downwardly-moving water-surfaces, and the absorption and assimilation of a further portion of the heat by the development or formation of vapors from the liquid or fluid treated through the evaporation and sacrifice of some minimum portion of the water or fluid treated in the interest of an economical and timely operation of the plant.

Various methods for controlling the overflow, some of the simpler of which are illustrated in the drawings, may be used accord ing to requirements. The overhanging portion of Q is preferable to an individual overhang of the pipes themselves with elbows or bends, as shown, and may be the more readily cleaned. It mayhave a series of pitchermouths, overflows, or projections supplying each its own reservoir.

To provide for a close arrangement of the drops, curtains, falls, or diaphragms and an open passage by and between the distributing ways or reservoirs, to which said drops, curtains, falls, or diaphragms N are preferably and directly attached, the distributing ways or reservoirs O are arranged in a plurality of tiers or rows and are staggered, so that no one of the distributing-reservoirs is directly below another. In the drawings two rows or tiers are shown. A greater number may be used.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

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1i'. 'The 'combinationwith a cooling appara-i tus ofthe character herein set forth, `ot' a sur" 2Q The combination with a cooling'apparatus of the character herein set forth, of aseries of distributing-reservoirs, an overflow pro.-

jected--to overhang said distributiugreser- Vvoirs, and a series'. of ducts, feeders or passages dependent from said overflow and reaching down to or within the overiiowlevels ofy saiddistributingQreservoirs. z

f The'combination in acoolingapparatu -of the character'herein set forth, of an upw'ardly-extending compartment or shaft, the

said/hollow wallsforthe discharge of said duid, whereby the fluid is distributed forexposure tothe atmosphere.

ofthe character herein set forthpof a surrounding guard adapted to receive wind-pressure and overwhich it flows, drops and enters y 'the lpassages of jsaid cooling apparatus lo` vcated below the top edge of said guard, a cornnecting base or floor between the said sur-v rounding guard and the walls of t-he upwardlyextending compartment or shaft, and openings or passages within the lower walls of said compartment or shaft.

l l 5. The combination ina cooling apparatus of the-character herein set forth, of an upwardly-extending compartment or shaft, an overiiow about the sides or walls of'said upwardly-extending compartment or shaft, a

plurality of'rows or tiers of distributing-resp wardly'- extending compartment orvshaft, a-v 55 of the character herein set forth, of an u-p-r ervoirs, saiddistributing-reservoirs being .so

staggered that no. one reservoir shall be directlybeneath or can receive the overflow of the reservoirs at higher levels, Aand a series Vof ducts, feeders or passages dependent from said overflow and reaching down to or within -the overflow-levels of said distributing-reser voirs. p 6.',The combination ofthe character herein set forth, of an upwardly-extending compartment 'or shaft, an.

overflow about the sides or 'walls of said upplurality of rows or tiers ofl distributing-reservoirs, said distributing-reservoirs being so voirs and suspended fdrops, curtains ordia-` phrams down which'the overflowv is distrib uted. v7. The combination in a cooling apparatus in a cooling apparatus eliie wardly-extending compartment or shaft, ali

Voverflow about the sides or`walls of said upwardly-extending compartment' or shaft, a plurality ofrows or tiersof distributing ways or reservoirs, said distributing reservoirs being'soistaggered that no one reservoir shall be directly beneath or can receive the overiiow of the reservoirs at higher levels, aseries of ducts, feeders or passages dependent from said overow and reaching down to or within the overflow-levels of saidvdistributing-reservoirs,andsuspended drops, curtains ordiaphragms down which the overiiow is distrlbluted of graduated lengths to extend down to, in vfrontof and past the admission openings -or passages of the upwardly-extending comc c partmentor shaft, v

inclosing'walls of which are constructed of e heatlradiating `material andare made hollow Vand'water-tight and contain thelioluidY toJbe" cooled'an overflow 'at' the upper portion of" 8. The combination in a cooling apparatus of the character herein set forth, 'the inclos- `ing walls of which are"constructed of heatgradi-ating material'andp'rare made hollow and ywater-tight andv contain the liquid to Vbe cooled, an overflow atthe upper portion of c -said hollow walls for the discharge of said 4; The combination in a coolingapparatus fluid, apluralityo'f rows or tiers ofgdistributing-reservoirs, said distributing-reservoirs bea ing so staggeredv that no one reservoir ,shall be directly beneath or can receive the overa flow ofV the reservoirs athigher levels, a series of ducts, feeders or passages Vdependent from said overflow andv reaching down to or within theoveriiow-levels of said distrib uting-resen ',voirs, and suspended drops, curtains or diaphragms down which the overiiowvis distributed'.` o Y g 9. The combination in a cooling apparatus of the lcharacter herein set forth,.,of an upwardly-extending compartment or shaft, -a surrounding guard-adapted to receive windvpressure and over which it flows, drops and entersthe admission-passages ot" said cooling apparatus locatedbelow the top edge of said guard; base or bottom flooring, walls, partiti0ns,'or braces connecting the main walls, all made hollow and watertight and of heat- 'radiating material, and an overiow at the upper portion of said hollow walls for the discharge of the contained iuid.

' l0. The combination in acooling apparatus of the character herein set forth, of an upwardly-extending lcompartment or shaft, a surrounding guard adapted to receive wind- "pressure and over which it flows, drops and apparatus located below the top edge of said.

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guard; base or bottom ooring connecting the Walls of said compartment or shaft with those of the surrounding guard; openings or passages at the bottom of said compartment or shaft; additional openings or Apassages be- 10W the levelofsaid iioor or base portion for the admission of air or cooling medium, and a receiving tank, duct or reservoir located beneath said apparatus, for containing and transmitting the fluid resulting or draining from the apparatus in its operation.

l2. The combination in a cooling apparatus of the character herein set forth, of an upwardly-extending compartment or shaft an' overflow about the sides or Walls of said upwardly-extending compartment or shaft; a plurality of rows or tiers of distributing ways 

